Exploring Aloguinsan's well-kept secrets

It was a sun-drenched Thursday morning, and Aloguinsan’s lady mayor trekked ahead of the pack of mostly city dwellers through an uneven pathway leading to one of this town’s well-kept secrets.

To my knowledge, Aloguinsan (its name is derived from “ulo sa kinsan”), which lies southwest of the island-province and is bounded by the municipalities of Pinamungahan and Barili, has not been really known as a stopping and sight-seeing point for southern sojourns. But I was in for a major surprise.  

“There are people who have come here, and they have been telling me that we really have nice places with great potential for tourism. But as natives to the area and having been used to seeing all this, we find it hard to make claims,” Mayor Cynthia Moreno told our small group of thrill seekers that also included a history professor, a balikbayan and tourism consultant.

The pathway wound up at the entry point to barangay Bojo’s river, where multi-hued kayaks lay in waiting for its willing (and inexperienced!) riders.

But first, to help pump up our energy (and confidence) to be able to kayak unaided through the four-kilometer-long river, we were treated to an appetizing midday feast of homemade biko, pancit, and buko juice.

After a “crash course” on kayaking courtesy of some employees from the municipal hall, who volunteered to keep us company on our first-ever eco-adventure on Aloguinsan, we were ready to wade through the waters.

As we rowed through the narrow-shaped river, I’ve never seen any place quite like it in Cebu. My companions, emboldened by what they have seen, tagged it as Cebu’s answer to Palawan in a small-scale, yet solid fashion. Having been to Palawan—the so-called mother of adventure and eco-tourism—for a number of times, I couldn’t help but agree.

Here, you feel so close to nature, as mangroves and other flora outline the river. The relatively shallow waters at Bojo River are also very clean and inviting for a swim. There are also curves and bends along the way that should challenge the closet “Survivor castaway” in you. Nighttime spells a more interesting sight, as our guides, who ooze with pride in their place, noted that the surroundings are lit up with fireflies. Adding some authenticity to the experience are fishermen on their paddleboats who would holler a hello as you encounter them along the way. 

The course of our kayaking tour ended at the mouth of the river where the freshwater flows into the sea, and this part is backdropped by no less than the silhouette of Negros Occidental. There’s ample area with still fairly shallow waters perfect for snorkeling, although from my kayak, I was already able to see the breathtaking corals and schools of fishes in all its color and vibrancy. There are also attention-grabbing rock formations that complete the postcard-perfect picture.

Nearby is barangay Kantabogon beach, which boasts of a lengthy stretch of white sand for a beach front. It being a semi-enclave should appeal to those looking for quality, private time with friends, family or loved ones. Another plus for Kantabogon is its diving area.

We also came across a couple of children spear-fishing. The mayor said that that’s why the coral reefs here are largely unharmed and intact, because the people of Aloguinsan fish by using spikes or lines.

From Kantabogon, we boarded a motorboat that directly docked in front of the municipal hall. The waters here are still temptingly clear and clean that if I was working near the area, I’d be the first to jump into it to de-stress after a hard day’s work. I hope it becomes a priority of its townsfolk to keep the waters unpolluted in anticipation of more visitors looking to explore the area.

We concluded our trip lazing the afternoon away in one of the cabanas at the Baluarte hill park, which stands on a cliff at the back of the municipal hall. The Baluarte Park is also home to a historical landmark—the remnants of a watchtower that kept the natives on their guard against Moro attacks during the Spanish period.

Amidst a light breeze and impressive view of the Tañon Strait…over warm cups of sikwate and second helpings of pan bisaya and the bread version of salvaro (only in Aloguinsan!)…we waited for the sun to dip and planned on a return trip. 

Although a concrete tourism blueprint is not yet in place, Moreno said that the local government is intent on maximizing these adventure tourism gems in the next few months what with the positive feedback, plus growing interest in this town following its recent inclusion in the Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo caravan. And rightfully so—after all, Aloguinsan’s well-kept secrets are meant to be shared.